Canadian Conners in lead after first round of Valspar Championship
PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Canadian rookie Corey Conners didn’t seem too bothered by the tough swirling wind at Innisbrook on Thursday.
The Listowel, Ont., native, who got into the Valspar Championship field as an alternate not long after he failed to get through Monday qualifying, didn’t make a bogey until his final hole at No. 9 and shot a 4-under 67.
That gave him a one-shot lead over Nick Watney, Whee Kim and Kelly Kraft. Only three other players, including former PGA champion Jimmy Walker broke 70.
Innisbrook produced the highest average score for the opening round — 72.86 — of the 23 courses used this season. But Conners managed just fine, taking advantage of a tournament he wasn’t sure he would be playing.